As a writer providing editorial services, it is not uncommon I receive requests to write something I know nothing about. How I go about tackling such a problem is to research, consolidate, and attribute.
Research
This is obvious enough—research and gather as much information as possible on the Web and from the hirer.
Consolidate
Compile and consolidate the information gathered. Plan out and organize the order for the information to be used. Ponder over the topic for a little while and decide how it should be written so it would sustain readers' interest.
Attribute
If using or citing information from sources other than those owned by the hirer, always state where the source is from and attribute authorship to the relevant parties or publisher. Doing so not only helps prevent infringing any intellectual property rights, but also enforces credibility in our writing, especially when the citation is from an authoritative source or reference.
Take it from me if you encounter a similar situation to go through the same steps, and you will find writing on unfamiliar topics is not as difficult as you imagine it to be.
Here are some sample articles with citation and attribution written by me for your reference.
- Digital Detox
- Flawed Business Decisions
- Gossip Mill
- Allergies: How to Handle Them
- Knees and Arthritis
- Pneumonia: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Are you now game to take up the challenge?
